The father of stab victim Dean Fitzpatrick has told how his world fell apart when he found out his son was dead – and thanks to Dave Mahon he will never see him again.

Christopher Fitzpatrick has described his devastation in May 2013 when he had to identify the 23-year-old’s remains in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.

In a victim impact statement, he said he was told by doctors they had done all they could but the single stab wound to his son’s body was so deep it was impossible to save him.

Mr Fitzpatrick added he had thought his daughter Amy’s disappearance in Spain on New Year’s Day in 2008 was the worst thing that could happen in his life.

He said: “In 2013 my world came crashing down once again.

“I always hoped some day she would be found. I cannot have the same hope for Dean.”

Mr Fitzpatrick added no words could describe the anger and pain he feels and he told Mahon’s sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin his son had been “brutally killed”.

Through prosecution lawyer Remy Farrell, he said he is very unhappy at the way the 45-year-old has been portrayed and added after Dean’s killing he was faced with a High Court case over where he should be buried.

Mr Fitzpatrick also told how he was stressed out and was angry to hear about Mahon going on holiday to Spain while out on bail for killing his son.

He said: “There are no words to describe the pain, anger and despair. Dean was a loving father son, brother, nephew, and cousin, who is sadly missed.”

In her victim impact statement, also read by Mr Farrell, Audrey Fitzpatrick told how she was in the terrible position of being the mother of the victim and the wife of the killer.

She added: “Since I received the tragic news of my son’s death, my life has been like a living nightmare.

“Dean and I shared a special bond like only a mother and son can.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said the man who killed her son also “lost everything”.

She added: “He did everything in his power to find his beloved stepdaughter Amy and he still does and will continue to do so.”

Ms Fitzpatrick also said her son’s killer has always been there for her.

She added: “Dave has been there to literally pick me up off the floor. I would not be here only for Dave.”

On the killing itself, she added: “For my part, I cannot disagree with the verdict. Dave did produce a knife.

“I have forgiven him but not forgotten. He will always be my husband, carer and best friend.”

In her statement, Sarah O’Rourke – Dean’s partner and the mother of his four-year old son Leon – said her life has become a nightmare since his death. She added: “Knowing I’d never see Dean again was soul-destroying.

Sarah O'Rourke, partner of Dean Fitzpatrick (Photo: Collins)

“Even now, three years later, I can’t fully accept Dean is gone. I’m moving on slowly but I can’t forget Dean.”

Through Mr Farrell, Ms O’Rourke told how Leon was only 18 months when his dad was taken from him. She said: “He was too young to understand why his daddy was not there.”

She also said it was heartbreaking to hear him say “Dada” when his father would not be coming back.

Ms O’Rourke added: “That broke my heart, listening to my son looking for his dad. I told him his daddy was a star in the sky and angels took him.” Only in the past few months has Leon began to realise that unlike other kids he does not have a dad.

Earlier this month, a jury took eight hours and 16 minutes to reach a verdict that Mahon was guilty of manslaughter.

The court heard he had two previous convictions – a public order offence in 1995, and a conviction for dangerous driving and drink driving in April 2013, for which he was serving a suspended sentence when he killed Dean.

His lawyer Sean Guerin added his client had no record of violence and the killing of Dean was entirely out of character.

He said Mahon accepted the jury verdict and did not intend to appeal it.

Mr Guerin added he had been instructed to apologise on behalf of his client to all who knew Dean, especially to those who had made victim impact statements.

Mahon admitted holding the knife that caused his stepson’s death, but claimed he walked onto the blade. He is to be sentenced on June 13.